Kinetoscope.



Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THADDEUS A. NOLAN, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

KINETOSCOPE.

To all whom it may conccm:

Be it known that I, THADDEUS A. NOLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, ()hio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Kinetoscopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to kinetoscopes of the class adapted to use for exhibiting moving pictures, and the objects of my improvements are to provide spring actuated mechanism for moving the film intermittently; to provide automatic positive stop mechanism for the film at predetermined points in its movement; to provide means for maintaining the actuating spring within a predetermined range of tension; to provide means for moving and maintaining the film in properly framed position, and to provide such simple and durable construction and assemblage of the different co-acting members as to secure the greatest accuracy, facility of operation and efficiency of action.

These objects are attained in the following described manner, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a kinetoscope embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, a side elevation with parts broken away; Figs. 3 and 4, front and side elevations re spectively with parts broken away of the intermittent mechanism; Fig. 5, an end View of the spring drum with parts broken away, and Fig. 6, a modified form of construction of the intermittent stop.

In the drawings, 1 represents the stationary frame of a kinetoscope, 2 the crank shaft journaled thereon, 3 feeding sprocket wheels for the film 4, 5 a train of gears connecting the crank shaft therewith, 6 a guide for maintaining the film on the said sprocket wheels, 7 a stationary plate provided with an aperture 8, 9 a vertically sliding door hinged on pintle 11 and provided with a catch 12 and with an enlarged aperture 13, 14 springs attached to the door for maintaining the film in the stationary guides (not shown) thereunder, all being constructed and arranged in the ordinary manner.

A movable frame 15 is vertically adjustable on guide rods 16 by means of hand lever connections 17 for properly framing the pictures on the film in relation to the A vertical shaft journaled in fixed bearings and having gear connections with the crank shaft 2, carries a wide faced Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 9, 1909.

Patented Nov. 7, 1911;

Serial No. 501,058.

spur gear 18. A shaft 19 journaled in the movable frame is continually engaged with gear 18 by means of pinion 21 during the different vertical adjustments of the frame 15. A transverse shaft 22 provided with a fly wheel 23 is journaled in the movable frame 15 and actuated by means of miter gear connections with the vertical shaft 19.

A transverse shaft 24 journaled in the movable frame carries the film spool or sprocket wheels 25 and is provided with a series of preferably four stops 26 as shown in Fig. 6. A drum 27 mounted to turn on shaft 24 is driven by means-of gear connections 28 with shaft 22 at a speed in unison with that of the film sprocket wheels 3. A disk 29 secured to shaft 24 within the drum is provided with a pin 31 which is movable within a slot 32 formed in one end wall of the drum, for limiting the relative rotation of the disk and drum to onefourth of a turn. A spiral spring 33 within the drum serves to yieldingly connect the disk with shaft 24 thereto.

A horizontal shaft 34 journaled in the movable frame 15 perpendicular to shaft 22 is driven at a speed of four to one in relation thereto by means of bevel gear connections 35 therewith. A disk 36 provided with a projecting lug 37 near its edge is secured on shaft 34. A latch 38 fulcrumed on the movable frame 15 is maintained under a yielding pressure with one end in the path of the stops 26 by means of a coiled spring 39 and with the opposite end thereof in the path of the lug 37 on disk 36, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A guide 41 serves to maintain the film 4 in pro-per engagement with the sprocket wheels 25 in the usual manner.

In operation, the longitudinal movement of the pinion 21 on the long spur gear 18 permits the vertical adjustment of the movable frame for registering the pictures on the film with the aperture in the stationary plate without interfering with the accurate movement of the driven members thereon. The latch 38 contacting with one of the stops 26 maintains the sprocket wheels on shaft 24 together with the film immovable during one-fourth turn of the drum against the resistance of the spiral spring therein. The contact of the lug on the disk with the latch turns it out of engagement with the stop and immediately releases it again to resume its normal position under the return action of spring 39 to intercept the succeeding stop 26. This intermittent movement of the sprocket wheels 25 is timed in unison with the continuous movement of the sprocket wheels 3 and the fly Wheel shaft 22. The spiral spring secures the much desired instant action of the intermittent movement of the film, and the positive contact of the latch in accurate predetermined positions between its intermittent movements whereby the pictures may be thrown on the screen with the utmost relative precision and steadiness.

Having fully described my improvements, What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A kinetoscope comprising a driven shaft provided with a stop, a driving shaft yieldingly connected thereto, means for limiting the relative movement of said shafts, a spring actuated latch adapted to automatically engage with the stop, and means actuated by the driving shaft for periodically and positively disengaging the latch from 1 the stop, whereby intermittent motion of the driven shaft may be obtained.

2. A kinetoscope comprising a shaft provided with a series of stops, yielding driving connections therefor, means for limiting the relative movement thereof with the shaft, a spring actuated latch arranged to automatically engage with the stops successively, and means actuated in synchronism with said shaft and in unison with the stops for positively disengaging the latch from the stops successively.

3. A kinetoscope comprising a driving shaft, a driven, shaft provided with a series of stops, yielding connections from the driving shaft therewith, positive means for limiting the relative movement of the shafts, a spring actuated latch pivotally mounted at a fixed point and arranged to automatically engage With the stops, a rotative disk provided with a lug arranged to intercept and disengage the latch from the stops periodically, and positive driving connections from the driving shaft therewith in a ratio corresponding to the number of stops.

T. A. NOLAN.

VVit-nesses WV. THORNTON BOGERT, R. G. CARR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0." 

